scholarly journals Distribution and status of the Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus in Mongolia: a cause for conservation concern?

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN GILBERT ◽  
RUTH TINGAY ◽  
JAMBAL LOSOLMAA ◽  
NADIA SUREDA ◽  
COLIN GILBERT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Breeding Activity ◽  
Historical Literature ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Historical Sites

SummaryPallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus (PFE) is sparsely distributed across a vast swathe of central, eastern and southern Asia, and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by IUCN on the basis of population size and reports of declines in many areas. Mongolia has long been considered a breeding stronghold for the species, but evidence to support this is unclear. Our objective was to assess the current distribution and status of the PFE in Mongolia to enable a more accurate assessment of the species’ conservation status, through collation of existing information from the historical literature, and a contemporary survey of historical sites and potential PFE breeding habitat. Thirty-four traceable locations were identified in the historical literature, of which breeding activity had been recorded in seven. Field surveys were conducted at a total of 77 sites throughout the study period (2005–2011) between April and October, including 21 of the historical PFE locations. PFE were observed at eight sites, all of which were historical PFEs locations, and no evidence of breeding activity was recorded. These findings suggest that Mongolia is not (and may never have been) a breeding stronghold for the PFE. The lack of eagles at 13 of 21 historical sites surveyed, coupled with a lack of sightings of birds at alternative locations is suggestive of a decline in site occupancy. Observations of juvenile eagles within one month of the spring thaw suggests that at least a proportion of Mongolian PFEs are breeding at southern latitudes, and future studies to establish these migratory linkages are warranted. These findings, coupled with evidence of declines in other parts of the PFE range indicate a need to re-evaluate the species’ conservation status, and in particular to determine the number of mature PFEs present in suitable habitat in the Indian Subcontinent and Myanmar between November and March.

Conspecific attraction for conservation and management of terrestrial breeding birds: Current knowledge and future research directions

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon J Valente ◽  
Christa L LeGrande-Rolls ◽  
James W Rivers ◽  
Anna M Tucker ◽  
Richard A Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Social Cues ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conspecific Attraction ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
And Control

Abstract Conspecific presence can indicate the location or quality of resources, and animals settling near conspecifics often gain fitness benefits. This can result in adaptive conspecific attraction during breeding habitat selection as demonstrated in numerous terrestrial, territorial birds. There is growing interest in using simulated conspecific social cues (e.g., decoys, broadcasted vocalizations) to manage bird distributions, yet it remains unclear when this approach is likely to succeed. We reviewed published studies to evaluate whether the strength of conspecific attraction in terrestrial birds is mediated by characteristics of species (life history traits), simulated cues (e.g., timing and duration), sites (e.g., quality), and how conspecific attraction was measured. We identified 31 experiments that simulated social cues and compared conspecific settlement between treatment and control sites. We then used phylogenetically controlled meta-regression to assess the impacts of 19 moderators on settlement. Nearly all species included in these experiments were migratory passerines, and social cues generally had a strong, positive influence on their settlement decisions, as the odds of site occupancy were 3.12× (95% CI: 0.81–11.69) greater in treatment sites relative to control sites. Within this group, conspecific attraction was evolutionarily conserved with ≥25.5% (95% CI: 5.1%–65.4%) of the variance in treatment effects explained by phylogenetic relatedness. However, we found no evidence that any covariates influenced the response to social cues, and we posit this stems from limited research specifically designed to identify the mechanisms mediating conspecific attraction. We therefore developed a research agenda that provides a framework for testing mechanistic hypotheses regarding how cue characteristics, species traits, and spatial contexts may mediate attraction to conspecifics. Evaluating these hypotheses will greatly advance the field by helping managers understand when, where, and why simulating social cues can be used to enhance populations of species that are of conservation concern.

scholarly journals New island record and conservation status of Puerto Rican Bank endemic plant species, Ruehssia woodburyana (Acev.-Rodr.) Goyder, comb. nov., formally transferred from Marsdenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bárrios ◽  
José Sustache ◽  
David Goyder ◽  
Martin Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
British Virgin Islands ◽  
Area Of Occupancy

Thought to be endemic to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Ruehssia woodburyana (Apocynaceae) was recently discovered at a single location on Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. Despite an increase in the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, this species meta-population is very limited with a total of 37 individuals known in the wild. The largest subpopulation, on Mona Island, has only 26 individuals. The species suitable habitat is experiencing a continuing decline due to urban development, grazing by feral ungulates and human-induced forest fires. Conservation action is urgently needed and should be directed towards establishing genetically representative ex situ collections, such as seed for long term storage and live material for propagation. This species is evaluated as Critically Endangered (CR), based on Criteria C2a(i)+D, according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (version 3.1) and guidelines (Subcommittee IUCN Standards and Petitions 2016). Extensive and regular surveys to the region enable the discovery of new plant records for different countries and islands. In this paper, we record a new island record for Ruehssia woodburyana on Norman Island, in the British Virgin Islands and discuss the species conservation status. Marsdenia woodburyana is transferred to the genus Ruehssia to reflect the resurrection of that genus for species of Marsdenia native to the New World.

scholarly journals Distribution, habitat associations, and conservation status updates for the pilose crayfish Pacifastacus gambelii and Snake River pilose crayfish Pacifastacus connectens of the western United States

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M Egly ◽  
Eric R Larson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
False Positives ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Historical Sites

Our study evaluates the distribution, habitat associations, and current conservation status of the pilose crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus gambelii, two little-studied and data-deficient species endemic to the western United States. We first developed a species distribution model (SDM) for the pilose crayfishes based on their historical occurrence records using boosted regression trees and freshwater GIS data layers. We then sampled 163 sites in the summers of 2016 and 2017 within the distribution of these crayfishes, including 50 where these species were observed historically. We next compared our field results to modeled predictions of suitable habitat from the SDM. Our SDM predicted 73 sites (45%) we sampled as suitable for the pilose crayfishes, with a moderate AUC value of 0.824. The pilose crayfishes were generally predicted to occur in larger streams and rivers with less extreme upstream temperature and precipitation seasonality. We found the pilose crayfishes at only 20 (12%) of the 163 total sites we sampled, 14 (20%) of the 73 sites predicted as suitable for them by our SDM, and 12 (24%) of 50 historical sites that we sampled. We found the invasive virile crayfish Faxonius virilis at 22 sites total and 12 (24%) historical sites for the pilose crayfishes, and the “native invader” signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus at 29 sites total and 6 (12%) historical locations. We subsequently used a single classification tree to identify factors associated with our high rate of false positives for contemporary pilose crayfish distributions relative to our SDM. This classification tree identified the presence of invasive crayfishes, impairment of the benthic community, and sampling method as some of the factors differentiating false positives relative to true positives for the pilose crayfishes. Our study identified the historical distribution and habitat associations for P. connectens and P. gambelii using an SDM and contrasted this prediction to results of contemporary field sampling. We found that the pilose crayfishes have seemingly experienced substantial range declines, attributable to apparent displacement by invasive crayfishes and impairment or change to stream communities and habitat. We recommend increased conservation and management attention to P. connectens and P. gambelii in response to these findings.

Grazing pressure and the interaction dynamics of the endemic Cyprus Warbler Sylvia melanothorax and its recently colonising congener the Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
MARTIN A. HELLICAR ◽  
ALEXANDER N.G. KIRSCHEL
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
Recent Classification ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Open Woodland ◽  
Over Time

Summary The recent classification of the endemic Cyprus Warbler to a Species of European Conservation Concern by BirdLife International has renewed interest in its interaction with the Sardinian Warbler, a widespread Sylvia that was first confirmed as breeding in Cyprus in the 1990s and has since expanded in numbers and range. In areas where the Sardinian Warbler has become established, there has been a reduction in the abundance of the Cyprus Warbler, leading some researchers to suggest the recently arrived species is outcompeting its endemic congener. However, clear evidence of competition between the two species has not been found, and more recent research has suggested the closely related warbler species show preferences for subtly different scrub habitats, which might be influenced by the extent of grazing. We carried out line transect surveys during the breeding season at 48 scrub and open woodland sites across Cyprus in 2012, 2014 and 2016, recording Cyprus Warblers and Sardinian Warblers in order to estimate their densities. In addition, we recorded vegetation characteristics and estimated grazing pressure at these 48 sites. Our analysis showed that the Sardinian Warbler continues to increase in abundance over time and its higher abundances were associated with lower Cyprus Warbler abundances. Sardinian Warbler however was negatively associated with all but very low grazing pressure, whereas the Cyprus Warbler was more tolerant of grazing. Our findings suggest continued grazing of scrub sites is important for the maintenance of suitable habitat for the endemic warbler, which will help improve its conservation status.

scholarly journals Distribution, habitat associations, and conservation status updates for the pilose crayfish Pacifastacus gambelii and Snake River pilose crayfish Pacifastacus connectens of the western United States

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M Egly ◽  
Eric R Larson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
False Positives ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Boosted Regression Trees ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Precipitation Seasonality ◽  
Historical Sites

Our study evaluates the distribution, habitat associations, and current conservation status of the pilose crayfishes Pacifastacus connectens and Pacifastacus gambelii, two little-studied and data-deficient species endemic to the western United States. We first developed a species distribution model (SDM) for the pilose crayfishes based on their historical occurrence records using boosted regression trees and freshwater GIS data layers. We then sampled 163 sites in the summers of 2016 and 2017 within the distribution of these crayfishes, including 50 where these species were observed historically. We next compared our field results to modeled predictions of suitable habitat from the SDM. Our SDM predicted 73 sites (45%) we sampled as suitable for the pilose crayfishes, with a moderate AUC value of 0.824. The pilose crayfishes were generally predicted to occur in larger streams and rivers with less extreme upstream temperature and precipitation seasonality. We found the pilose crayfishes at only 20 (12%) of the 163 total sites we sampled, 14 (20%) of the 73 sites predicted as suitable for them by our SDM, and 12 (24%) of 50 historical sites that we sampled. We found the invasive virile crayfish Faxonius virilis at 22 sites total and 12 (24%) historical sites for the pilose crayfishes, and the “native invader” signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus at 29 sites total and 6 (12%) historical locations. We subsequently used a single classification tree to identify factors associated with our high rate of false positives for contemporary pilose crayfish distributions relative to our SDM. This classification tree identified the presence of invasive crayfishes, impairment of the benthic community, and sampling method as some of the factors differentiating false positives relative to true positives for the pilose crayfishes. Our study identified the historical distribution and habitat associations for P. connectens and P. gambelii using an SDM and contrasted this prediction to results of contemporary field sampling. We found that the pilose crayfishes have seemingly experienced substantial range declines, attributable to apparent displacement by invasive crayfishes and impairment or change to stream communities and habitat. We recommend increased conservation and management attention to P. connectens and P. gambelii in response to these findings.

MONUMENTS OF NATURE AND HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL OBJECTS OF THE DNISTROVSKYI RLP: THE STATE OF PROTECTION AND THE PROSPECTS OF TOURIST USE

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-87
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Educational Value ◽  
Cultural Objects ◽  
Cultural Sites ◽  
New Information ◽  
Geological Features ◽  
Tourist Infrastructure ◽  
Historical Sites ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
Recreational Resources

The existing nature conservation objects that are part of the Dnistrovskyi Regional Landscape Park are characterized and mapped. There are more than sixty different types of WFD objects in and around the park. All objects are tabulated. Also, geological, geomorphological, hydrological objects have been identified that have scientific, recreational and educational value, which gives grounds for granting them conservation status. This is a large number of rocks of different ages (Silurian, Devonian, Jurassic, Cretaceous), which makes it possible to study the history and condition sof the territory. The location is mapped. Also on the map as places of interest are the places of manifestation of modern geomorphological processes. Fluvial, karst, gravity, erosion and other processes are most evidentin the park. The dynamics of karst processes haveled to the formation of numerous caves and cave formations, which are valuable from the scientific and recreational plan. A mong the hydrological and hydro-geological features are waterfalls, marshe sand ground water exits to the surface in the form of springs. Historical and cultural sites occurring with in and around the park are characterized and mapped. The seare objects of Paleolithic heritage (the oldestin Bukivna, Horodnytsia), Kievan Rus' period, ruins of ancient castles (Rakovetsky and Chekrnelitsky) and fotresses, lordlye states, ancient churches, of which there are more than thirty, existing and in active in the region. The most ancient are the village of Michalce), monuments of liberation competitions (hiding places) and places of great historical battles. It maps and describes the existing route sand objects of the tourist infrastructure of the Dnistrovskyi RLP. The park and surrounding areas haves ignificant natural and recreational potential. The presence of a large number of diverse natural sites make sit possible to create attractions for tourism development in the region. The presence of historical and cultural heritage en hances the use of the territory. New routes and proposals for improvement of the tourist infrastructure of the territory were developed: creation of an eco-educational visit center, placement of agroosel complexes, arrangement of places for stops during the Dniester alloys, creation of a network of tourist points at the places of passage of route sand places of rest of residents, development and in stallation of new information standsne are xisting tourist natural and historical sites in the study area. Key words: Dnistrovskyi RLR, Nature Reserve objects, historical and cultural sites, nature monuments, recreational resources, tourism.

scholarly journals North Pacific warming shifts the juvenile range of a marine apex predator

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kisei R. Tanaka ◽  
Kyle S. Van Houtan ◽  
Eric Mailander ◽  
Beatriz S. Dias ◽  
Carol Galginaitis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Marine Predator ◽  
Spatial Shift ◽  
Marine Megafauna ◽  
Community Science ◽  
Juvenile Sharks

AbstractDuring the 2014–2016 North Pacific marine heatwave, unprecedented sightings of juvenile white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) emerged in central California. These records contradicted the species established life history, where juveniles remain in warmer waters in the southern California Current. This spatial shift is significant as it creates potential conflicts with commercial fisheries, protected species conservation, and public safety concerns. Here, we integrate community science, photogrammetry, biologging, and mesoscale climate data to describe and explain this phenomenon. We find a dramatic increase in white sharks from 2014 to 2019 in Monterey Bay that was overwhelmingly comprised of juvenile sharks < 2.5 m in total body length. Next, we derived thermal preferences from 22 million tag measurements of 14 juvenile sharks and use this to map the cold limit of their range. Consistent with historical records, the position of this cold edge averaged 34° N from 1982 to 2013 but jumped to 38.5° during the 2014–2016 marine heat wave. In addition to a poleward shift, thermally suitable habitat for juvenile sharks declined 223.2 km2 year−1 from 1982 to 2019 and was lowest in 2015 at the peak of the heatwave. In addition to advancing the adaptive management of this apex marine predator, we discuss this opportunity to engage public on climate change through marine megafauna.

scholarly journals Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis density and abundance in Llanos Orientales de Colombia in the Orinoco basin

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Germán Garrote ◽  
Beyker Castañeda ◽  
Jose Manuel Escobar ◽  
Laura Pérez ◽  
Brayan Marín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Population Size ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Iucn Red List ◽  
Red List ◽  
Recreational Fishing ◽  
Pteronura Brasiliensis ◽  
Direct Counts

Abstract The giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis, categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, was once widely distributed throughout South America. By the middle of the 20th century the giant otter had become locally extinct along the main rivers of the Orinoco basin. Although some populations seem to have recovered, the paucity of information available does not permit a full evaluation of the species' conservation status. The objective of this study was to estimate the abundance and density of the giant otter population along the Orinoco river in the municipality of Puerto Carreño, Vichada, Colombia, where there is important commercial and recreational fishing. Thirty-nine linear km were surveyed, repeatedly, with a total of 315 km of surveys. Population size was estimated by direct counts of individuals. All individuals detected were photographed and identified individually from their throat pelage patterns. In total, 30 otters were identified, giving a minimum density of 0.77 individuals per km, one of the highest reported for the species in Colombia. Given the high density in this well-developed area, our results highlight the importance of this population for the conservation of the species.

Archival DNA reveals cryptic biodiversity within the Spotted Shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus) from New Zealand

The Condor ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas J Rawlence ◽  
Matt J Rayner ◽  
Tim G Lovegrove ◽  
Debbie Stoddart ◽  
Melanie Vermeulen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Conservation Management ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Mitochondrial Control Region ◽  
Phylogenetic Structure ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
Cryptic Biodiversity ◽  
Archival Dna

Abstract Genetic data are increasingly being used to prioritize species conservation in a fiscally constrained age of seemingly boundless conservation crises. Such data can also reveal previously cryptic biodiversity requiring further revision of conservation management guidelines. Using a combination of mitochondrial (control region) and nuclear (beta fibrinogen intron 7) DNA, and morphology, we reveal that the endemic New Zealand Spotted Shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus) complex exhibits phylogenetic structure that is decoupled from previously recorded qualitative morphological variation. Crucially, the most genetically distinct populations within P. punctatus are from northern New Zealand; recent surveys show that these populations, which house important genetic diversity within Spotted Shags, are in danger of being extirpated. In contrast, we find the previously phenotypically differentiated nominate (P. punctatus punctatus) and Blue (P. punctatus oliveri) Shag subspecies show no genetic and morphological separation, and are of least conservation concern.

Two new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from the Western Ghats, India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 334 (3) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
BINCE MANI ◽  
SINJUMOL THOMAS ◽  
S. JOHN BRITTO
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Ghats ◽  
Pollen Morphology ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
Two New Species ◽  
The Western Ghats

Impatiens saulierea and I. josephia, two new species, are described from the Western Ghats, India. The former is collected from Kakkayam, Kozhikode and the latter from Idukki, Kerala. A detailed description of both taxa along with diagnostic characters between allied species, conservation status, pollen morphology and colour photographs are provided.

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